Neck injury could rule Quinlan out

THE Munster management team are keeping their fingers crossed that flanker Alan Quinlan will be available for selection for Saturday’s big Magners League showdown with Leinster, despite injuring his neck in the victory over the Dragons at Musgrave Park on Sunday last.
Thirty-five-year-old Quinlan was replaced in the opening half of Munster’s bonus-point win over the Welsh side after injuring his neck in a tackle.


Munster manager Shaun Payne admitted Quinlan was struggling with the injury, but the management team were not ruling him out of contention for selection for the RDS clash with rivals Leinster (6.30pm).
Barry Murphy, who went over on his ankle in the early minutes of Sunday’s game with the Dragons is unavailable for the Leinster tie. Jean de Villiers, who made his Munster debut at the weekend, did suffer a touch of cramp towards the end of the match, but has recovered fully.
Jerry Flannery, Ian Dowling, Peter Stringer, David Wallace, Paul Warwick, Niall Ronan, Paul O’Connell, Keith Earls and Denis Leamy are also back in contention for places on the starting XV.
Munster manager Payne said the Leinster clash was ideal preparation for Saturday week’s big Heineken Cup opener away to Northampton.
“It is a proper test before the Heineken Cup. There is no bigger test or rivalry for us. And Leinster probably feel the same way about it,” Shaun Payne pointed out.
“It is a real chance to test yourself out before the Heineken Cup starts. It is early in the season. Both sides are finding their feet in terms of team selection and especially with the Lions just coming back into both squads. I think it is great preparation for what is coming next, but as a stand alone game it has always been up there.”
Payne said the management team had been especially pleased with Nick Williams’ Man of the Match performance against the Dragons on Sunday when the number eight bagged a hat-trick of tries.
“Nick (Williams) had a particularly good pre-season. He was very sharp in training. You could hardly wish to see a more powerful guy in the gym,” Shaun Payne said.
“To see him finally translate all of that into a performance on the pitch is very pleasing for us. That was one of the most positive things we took from the game with the Dragons.
“We see Nick day in and day out. We see what he is capable of. It is frustrating for him and for us that he hasn’t been able to do that on the pitch until now. He had the injury from the pre-season game with Sale.
“He started on Sunday and powered over for three tries. That was pleasing.”

COLM KINSELLA